Speaker housing

ABSTRACT

Speaker mounting apparatus includes a molded plastic housing having a base plate and a cover attached thereto by an integral hinge formed therebetween. Integral hinged mounting tabs are formed on the base plate adjacent a central opening therein provided to accommodate a speaker unit. The base plate is positioned on an apertured panel with the central opening of the former in alignment with the aperture of the latter. The tabs are folded into the aperture and about the panel onto the opposite surface thereof. Screws extending through the base plate and panel are received in the tabs to secure the housing on the panel. The speaker unit is mounted on the base plate and the cover is swung thereover about the integral hinge. Locking tabs formed on the cover are received in apertures in the base plate to removably secure the two portions in a joined condition.

Feb. 13, 1973 nite States Patent 1 Karr [54] SPEAKER HOUSING Primary Examiner-Ralph D. Blakeslee Assistant Examiner-Douglas W-. Olms [75] Inventor: EarlC. Karr, Lombard, 111.

Attorney-Vincent J. Rauner and R. J. La Porte [73] Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Franklin Park, lll.

May 17, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT S eaker mounting apparatus includes a molded plastic [22] Filed:

P housing having a base plate and a cover attached thereto by an integral hinge formed therebetween. lntegral hinged mounting tabs are formed on the base plate adjacent a central opening therein provided to accommodate a speaker unit. The base plate is positioned on an apertured panel with the central opening of the former in alignment with the aperture of the latter. The tabs are folded into the aperture and about 787 222 //l 8100 4 .4 242 70-! B B 1 ,1 303 /0/ 1 1 8300 1111 EMB 1 W09 71 1W 3 3 "u" nun 4 u 4 mfim l .r ""8 .n On 0 a N L M m D- SLO nll A UIF .l .11.] 1 21:8 2 555 1 1.1.21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS the panel onto the opposite surface thereof. Screws .248/27 extending through the base plate and panel are 148/27 received in the tabs to secure the housing on the panel. The speaker unit is mounted on the base plate 179/ E and the cover is swung thereover about the integral OR h11'lg6 Locking tabs fOll'l'lEd on the COVEI' are received 3,052,369 9/1962 2,812,149 11/1957 App1eton.... 3,028,137 4/1962 Houplain..

2,821,260 1/1958 Shaffer.... ..........................t.

in apertures in the base plate to removably secure the Germany E two portions a joined condition 6/1969 France..................................179/1 E 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SPEAKER nousmo BACKGROUND This invention relates generally to mounting apparatus for speakers and more particularly to such apparatus for mounting auxiliary speakers on panels, such as, for example, in automobiles.

Conventionally, apparatus for mounting auxiliary speakers in automobiles includes a speaker unit, a grille or cover plate and a plurality of screws and fasteners. The speaker unit is normally mounted from the rear of 'a panel in alignment with an aperture cut thereinto,

with screws extending from the front of the panel through apertures provided in the speaker flange and into fasteners connected to the screws from the rear of the panel. The grille is mounted separately and independently on the panel from the front over the speaker unit, with screws extending from the front panel through apertures in the grille and fasteners connected to the screws at the rear of the panel.

The latter, as can be seen, requires a separate grille or cover plate, separate fasteners to receive the screws used to mount the speaker and grille and in most cases, the services of two persons, one on either side for securing the speaker and grille in a mounted position on the panel.

Mounting speakers in the above described fashion can thus be time consuming and often, difficult to accomplish.

SUMMARY Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present in-' vention toprovide new and improved speaker mounting apparatus which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

I It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved speaker mounting apparatus with which a speaker and grille cover can be inounted on a panel from one side only.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide speaker mounting apparatus of the last described type which requires only screws inserted from the front of a panel to secure both a speaker and grille to the panel.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention includes a one piece molded plastic base plate and grille or cover linked together by an integral hinge. The base plate has an opening therein dimensioned similarly to an aperture cut in a panel whereat a speaker unit is to be mounted.

Integrally formed hinged tabs are provided on the base plate spaced about and extending inwardly from the edge of the opening. The base plate is positioned on a front surface of the panel with the openingthereof in alignment with the aperture in the panel. The hinged tabs are folded into the aperture and back onto the rear surface of the panel. Apertured bosses formed at the free ends of the tabs each receive a screw inserted from the front surface of the panel through the base plate, thereby to maintain the base plate secured on the panel.

A speaker unit is mounted on the base plate with screws extending therethrough from the front surface of the panel. The cover is swung over the speaker unit and integral fastener tabs formed thereon are snapped into aligned apertures provided in the base plate, thereby to maintain the'cover joined therewith.

DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 as it appears mounted on a panel;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention shown mounted on a panel prior to the mounting of the speaker thereon;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged sectional view of an integral hinged mounting tab of the speaker mounting apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a locking tab integrally formed on the speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention to secure the grille portion to the base plate thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a speaker mounted to a panel by means of speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing in greater detail wherein like numerals have been used throughout the various views to designate similar parts, FIG. 1 illustrates speaker mounting apparatus 10 including a one piece molded housing 12 according'to the invention. The housing 12 is formed of a plastic material, such as, for example, polypropylene, and is molded as a unit. The housing includes a base plate 14 having a central opening 16 provided therein. The central opening 16, in this case taking the shape of an ellipse, is dimensioned similarly to an aperture 18 (see FIG. 3) provided in a panel 20 to accommodate an elliptical speaker 60 (FIG. 5) which is to be mounted thereon.

Formed integrally with the base plate are a plurality of hinged mounting tabs,'each designated by the numeral 22. The tabs are spaced about and extend inwardly toward the center of opening 16 of base plate 14. Each tab includes an integral hinge portion 23 and an enlarged portion or boss 24 which is formed at the free end of each of the tabs. An aperture 26 extends through each of the free end portions of the tabs to receive a screw for mounting housing 12 to a panel. The mounting of the housing will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

A cover 28 is joined to base plate 14 by means of an integrally molded hinge 30 formed at adjacent edges 32, 34 of the base plate and cover, respectively (see FIG. 3).

The cover 28 includes a front wall 36 having a grille 38 formed therein. The pattern of the grille on the inside surface of wall 36 is dimensioned similarly to the speaker aperture and the grille pattern 39 on the outer surface extends over the entire wall for aesthetic purposes. The grille permits sound from the speaker mounted therebeneath to be emitted freely through cover 28. Opposing side walls 38, 40 and 42, 44 are formed integrally with plate 36 of the cover.

Along an edge 46 of side wall 42 there is formed a pair of spaced locking tabs, 48, 50, best seen in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The locking tabs are L-shaped and are each positioned for receipt in an elongated aperture,

52, 54, respectively, provided in base plate 14 upon 56, 58 formed on edges 60, 62 of the side walls 38, 40, respectively, are provided for receipt in elongated apertures, 64, 66, respectively, of base plate 14. The guide tabs provide correct alignment of the cover with respect to base plate 14 when the former is closed on the latter. The last-mentioned tabs also provide support to the cover 28 when in place on the base plate.

When mounting a speaker such as 60 (FIG. on a panel 20 having an aperture therein, the base plate is initially positioned so that the central opening thereof is aligned with the aperture. Mounting tabs 22 are bent or folded at hinged portion 23 into the central aperture toward the panel and are folded back onto the rear surface 21 thereof. Screws such as 62 (FIGS. 3, 3a and 4) are received in apertures 64 (FIG. 1) of the base plate. The screws pass through the panel 20 and are received in the apertures 26 which, when tabs 22 were bent about the panel, became aligned with aperture 64. The screws are tightened into the boss portions 24 of the tabs 22 to secure the base plate on the panel.

The hinged tabs 22 provide easy mounting of the speaker housing and eliminate the need for separate fasteners to be placed at the rear surface of panel 20. Also, the hinged portions 23 wrapped about the panel maintain the base plate opening in alignment with the aperture in the panel.

Once the base plate has been mounted on the panel as described, the speaker unit 60 is positioned from the front of panel 20 onto base plate 14. The permanent magnet, supporting structure and rear speaker cone portions 72, 74, respectively, of the speaker unit are passed through the apertures 16, 18. Holes in the flange 78 of the support structure (FIG. 5) extending about the speaker cone are aligned with apertures 68 in raised portions or bosses 70 integrally formed on base plate 14, adjacent apertures 64. Screws, such as 80, are passed from the front of panel 20 through the apertures in the speaker flange and into the apertures 68 in bosses 70 to secure the speaker unit to the base plate. The bosses 70 maintain the speaker spaced from the screws 62 used in mounting the housing to the panel to prevent any vibration, etc., which might occur if the last-mentioned were in contact with each other.

Once the speaker is firmly mounted on the base plate 14, cover 28 is swung about integral hinge 30 over the front 82 of speaker unit 60 so that guide tabs 56, 58 and locking tabs 48, 50 are received in corresponding apertures 65, 66 and 52,54, respectively, in base plate 14. The locking tabs snap into complementarily shaped apertures to secure the cover and base plate in a joined condition (see FIG. 4). In the event the speaker requires replacement at a later date, a pulling force applied at the edge of cover 28 at wall 42 thereof, separates the cover from the base plate, exposing the speaker. The speaker may then be removed by loosening screws 80. The base plate, however, remains secured on the panel.

Thus, the speaker mounting apparatus according to the invention provides a relatively simple means to mount easily a speaker on an apertured panel. The mounting can be accomplished from one side of the panel by one person and requires no loose or separate fasteners to be positioned at the back of the panel. The integral hinged tabs 22 formed on the base plate of the speaker housing firmly-secure the housing to the panel and prevent movement of the base plate thereon. Even after a speaker unit is mounted on the base plate, the unit is readily accessible and can be exposed for repair or replacement easily.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is therefore contemplated to cover by the present application any and all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for mounting a speaker having a cone portion and a support structure upon which said cone is mounted including a flange, on a panel having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive the cone portion of said speaker, said apparatus comprising; a base plate formed of a molded plastic material having an opening dimensioned similarly to the aperture in said panel and a plurality of mounting tabs formed integrally with said base plate for securing the latter to said panel with a first surface of said base plate engaging a first surface of said panel, said tabs each including a strap portion and a raised boss portion at the free end thereof, said tabs normally extending inwardly toward the center of said opening and being foldable into said panel aperture and about the edge of the panel defining the opening therein, with said boss portions engaging the opposite surface of said panel adjacent said opening, said boss portions each including an aperture for receiving an elongated screw extending through said base plate and panel from the first surface of the latter, for maintaining said base plate mounted on said first surface, said mounting tabs being returnable to a normal position upon removal of said screws, said speaker being mounted on said base plate, the latter including means on the second surface thereof for engaging the flange of said speaker, and a molded plastic cover attached to said base plate by an integrally molded hinge, including means for joining said cover to said base plate over said speaker.

2. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for joining said cover to said base plate include a resilientlocking tab integrally formed with said cover for receipt in an aperture provided in said base plate.

3. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking tab is L-shaped and wherein said aperture is shaped complementarily thereto for receipt of said tab, whereby said tab is removably locked into said aperture to maintain the cover and base plate in a joined condition.

4. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate includes a plurality of raised bosses upon which said speaker is mounted and wherein said cover includes a grille formed therein to permit sound from said speaker to be emitted therethrough.

5. Apparatus for mounting a speaker having a cone portion and a support structure upon which said cone portion is mounted including a flange, on a panel having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive the cone portion of said speaker, said apparatus comprising; a base portion having first and second opposite surfaces and being formed of a molded plastic material having an opening dimensioned similarly to the aperture in said panel and a plurality of mounting tabs formed integrally with said base portion for securing the latter to said panel with a first surface of said base plate engaging a first surface of said panel, each of said tabs including an integral strap portion and an enlarged apertured boss portion at the free end thereof, said tabs extending normally inwardly toward the center of said opening and being bendable through said panel aperture and about the edge of the panel defining the opening therein, with the boss portions engaging the opposite surface of said panel adjacent said opening, said boss portions receiving screws extending through said base portion and panel from the first surface of the latter for mounting said base portion thereon with the first surface of said base portion in contacting engagement with said first panel surface, said mounting tabs being returnable to a normal position upon removal of said screws, said speaker being mounted on the second, opposite surface of said base portion with the flange of said support structure engaging said second surface of said base portion and said cone portion extending through said apertures in said base portion and panel, and a molded plastic cover portion joined to said base portion by a hinge integrally formed along adjacent edges of said base and cover porti0ns,said cover portion being movable about said hinge to enclose said speaker therebeneath, said cover including openings formed therein to permit sound from said speaker to be emitted therethrough.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base portion further includes apertures therein positioned adjacent said tabs so that upon bending said tabs about said panel said apertures are aligned with the enlarged apertured portions at the free end of said tabs.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said base portion further includes apertured bosses upon which said speaker is mounted, said bosses receiving fasteners extending through said speaker to maintain said speaker mounted on said base portion.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cover portion includes a locking tab formed integrally therewith along an edge of said cover portion opposite from the hinged edge thereof, and wherein said base portion includes an aperture therein for receiving said locking tab upon closing said cover over said speaker, thereby to removably lock said cover and base portions together. 

1. Apparatus for mounting a speaker having a cone portion and a support structure upon which said cone is mounted including a flange, on a panel having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive the cone portion of said speaker, said apparatus comprising; a base plate formed of a molded plastic material having an opening dimensioned simIlarly to the aperture in said panel and a plurality of mounting tabs formed integrally with said base plate for securing the latter to said panel with a first surface of said base plate engaging a first surface of said panel, said tabs each including a strap portion and a raised boss portion at the free end thereof, said tabs normally extending inwardly toward the center of said opening and being foldable into said panel aperture and about the edge of the panel defining the opening therein, with said boss portions engaging the opposite surface of said panel adjacent said opening, said boss portions each including an aperture for receiving an elongated screw extending through said base plate and panel from the first surface of the latter, for maintaining said base plate mounted on said first surface, said mounting tabs being returnable to a normal position upon removal of said screws, said speaker being mounted on said base plate, the latter including means on the second surface thereof for engaging the flange of said speaker, and a molded plastic cover attached to said base plate by an integrally molded hinge, including means for joining said cover to said base plate over said speaker.
 1. Apparatus for mounting a speaker having a cone portion and a support structure upon which said cone is mounted including a flange, on a panel having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive the cone portion of said speaker, said apparatus comprising; a base plate formed of a molded plastic material having an opening dimensioned simIlarly to the aperture in said panel and a plurality of mounting tabs formed integrally with said base plate for securing the latter to said panel with a first surface of said base plate engaging a first surface of said panel, said tabs each including a strap portion and a raised boss portion at the free end thereof, said tabs normally extending inwardly toward the center of said opening and being foldable into said panel aperture and about the edge of the panel defining the opening therein, with said boss portions engaging the opposite surface of said panel adjacent said opening, said boss portions each including an aperture for receiving an elongated screw extending through said base plate and panel from the first surface of the latter, for maintaining said base plate mounted on said first surface, said mounting tabs being returnable to a normal position upon removal of said screws, said speaker being mounted on said base plate, the latter including means on the second surface thereof for engaging the flange of said speaker, and a molded plastic cover attached to said base plate by an integrally molded hinge, including means for joining said cover to said base plate over said speaker.
 2. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for joining said cover to said base plate include a resilient locking tab integrally formed with said cover for receipt in an aperture provided in said base plate.
 3. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking tab is L-shaped and wherein said aperture is shaped complementarily thereto for receipt of said tab, whereby said tab is removably locked into said aperture to maintain the cover and base plate in a joined condition.
 4. Speaker mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate includes a plurality of raised bosses upon which said speaker is mounted and wherein said cover includes a grille formed therein to permit sound from said speaker to be emitted therethrough.
 5. Apparatus for mounting a speaker having a cone portion and a support structure upon which said cone portion is mounted including a flange, on a panel having an aperture therein dimensioned to receive the cone portion of said speaker, said apparatus comprising; a base portion having first and second opposite surfaces and being formed of a molded plastic material having an opening dimensioned similarly to the aperture in said panel and a plurality of mounting tabs formed integrally with said base portion for securing the latter to said panel with a first surface of said base plate engaging a first surface of said panel, each of said tabs including an integral strap portion and an enlarged apertured boss portion at the free end thereof, said tabs extending normally inwardly toward the center of said opening and being bendable through said panel aperture and about the edge of the panel defining the opening therein, with the boss portions engaging the opposite surface of said panel adjacent said opening, said boss portions receiving screws extending through said base portion and panel from the first surface of the latter for mounting said base portion thereon with the first surface of said base portion in contacting engagement with said first panel surface, said mounting tabs being returnable to a normal position upon removal of said screws, said speaker being mounted on the second, opposite surface of said base portion with the flange of said support structure engaging said second surface of said base portion and said cone portion extending through said apertures in said base portion and panel, and a molded plastic cover portion joined to said base portion by a hinge integrally formed along adjacent edges of said base and cover portions, said cover portion being movable about said hinge to enclose said speaker therebeneath, said cover including openings formed therein to permit sound from said speaker to be emitted therethrough.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base portion further includes aPertures therein positioned adjacent said tabs so that upon bending said tabs about said panel said apertures are aligned with the enlarged apertured portions at the free end of said tabs.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said base portion further includes apertured bosses upon which said speaker is mounted, said bosses receiving fasteners extending through said speaker to maintain said speaker mounted on said base portion. 